Side bearing for a railway car

Abstract

A side bearing comprises integrally bonded pieces including an elastomeric cushion member secured to top and bottom plates and flexible leveling means secured to the bottom plate. The bearing is designed for connection between the bolster and truck side frames of a railway car. The elastomeric member includes progressively larger openings therein extending from its center to its ends to provide varying flexibility to permit articulation of the truck side frames relative to the bolster during operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In combination with a car body carried by a bolster supported on a pair of side frames, an integral bearing assembly disposed between said bolster and each of said side frames, comprising: (a) top and bottom plate members extending along each of said side frames;   (b) an elastomeric cushion member disposed between said top and bottom plate members;   (c) an elastomeric strip secured to said bottom plate members between said bottom plate and said associated bolster;   (d) said elastomeric member including a plurality of openings therein; and   (e) said openings extending in opposite directions and becoming progressively larger as they extend from the center of said side bearing.     
     
     
       2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said side bearing assembly comprises a molded piece with said elastomeric cushion and strip comprising vulcanized rubber. 
     
     
       3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said side bearing assembly includes a rectangular cutaway area dimensioned to receive a protruding member connected to each of said side frames. 
     
     
       4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said plurality of openings extend along the longitudinal axis of said side bearing assembly. 
     
     
       5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said plurality of openings comprise two pairs of progressively larger openings extending in opposite directions from the center of said side bearing assembly. 
     
     
       6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said top plate member and said elastomeric cushion includes a central opening from receiving a fail safe pin secured to said bolster.